The Biggest Tire Myth

One of the misconceptions that seem to have a firm grip on the trucking industry is the one that says you should never, ever put a retread tire on the steer axle. But the notion that retread tires on steer axles are against the law only applies if you're moving people.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulation 393.75, paragraph D, states "no bus shall be operated with regrooved, recapped or retreaded tires on the front wheels."

It says nothing about prohibiting them on commercial trucks. At last check, the only restriction on using retreads on truck steer axles is in California, and that reg requires that they have not been retreaded more than two times or have casing repairs other than what's required to fix a nail puncture.

In fact, there are many trucks out there with retreads on their front axles. Typically these are found in applications such as the refuse industry, where tire repairs are frequent, and in the local pickup and delivery business. Most longhaul, over-the-road fleets tend to shy away from retreads on the steer axles, but there are some exceptions, especially for trucks making dedicated runs between terminals.

While there are no federal regulations regarding retreads on steer axles, there is some advice when it comes to their use. A committee made up of members of several tire groups, including the Tire Industry Association, Rubber Manufacturers Association and others, recommends using retreads in steering axle applications only if the original tire casing does not have any of the following conditions or characteristics:

1. More than one nail hole puncture

2. A sidewall injury or a previous sidewall repair that exposes the fabric or steel

3. Tread cuts requiring reinforcement of the section repair

4. Damage requiring belt removal or tires that have had a belt removed

5. Any bead area repair

6. Has been re-grooved or siped into the fabric or steel

7. Has been previously retreaded, unless it's to be used for local service applications (traveling no more than 55 mph for 50 continuous minutes) such as construction, refuse hauling, local pickup and delivery and other similar operating conditions, where casing age and fatigue are not a factor.